Thought #1

There is no end to the mind games of the Zen Master Phil Jackson. In the first round he tried to get in Kevin Durant's head by criticizing the way officials were treating the kid. This week he targeted the brain of Steve Nash by calling him out for carrying the basketball, saying "you can't pick that ball up and run with it."

Nice Phil. Just like any 13-year-old at the park, you tend to talk the most when you are a little bit scared. I get it, its your defense mechanism. You get a little intimidated, decide you need to somehow get an edge, and so you decide to drop a little nugget here or there, thinking it will frustrated your opponent.

The thing is, if this is what Phil does in public, wonder how far he take it in private? Is he dropping coin with some local witch trying to get her to cast a spell of swine flu on the Phoenix locker room? Does he keep a little Amare doll near the bench that he can probe with pins like that Indian prince in the Temple of Doom? Or does he simply revert to crank calls in the middle of night to Grant Hill's room to ensure he won't get a good nights rest? Any thing to get an edge I suppose.

Phil is a different dude, he bears a striking resemblance to Cornell Sanders, and is a dang good coach. Granted they should be a little scared by the Sun's ability to run and gun, but little digs like the one he sent to Nash should be beneath him.

Thought #2

So you thought the playoffs were over in the West? I don't blame you, I mean they did just take a week long vacation in the middle of the playoffs. While I'm not sure how they openly justify this lay off, I'm pretty sure the entire playoffs are built around the debut of the new season of Whip Out.

How awful is that?  The NBA is playing the role of the husband whose wife schedules their social events around episodes of Lost or American Idol. "No I'm sorry guys I can't go bowling, it's Lost night. I can't help your fix your truck because Crystal and Casey are battling it out tonight and I've got to text my vote in."

Come on NBA, don't be that guy. You should be the thing events are scheduled around, not vice-versa.

Thought #3

Orlando and Boston should be a great match-up, far better than Cleveland-Orlando would have been despite what the sports marketing world would lead you to believe.

Orlando has yet to be tested so you have to wonder how they will react. You have to wonder how they might play if they actually have to play 5 plus games in this series. I mean they must be pretty conditioned to 4 games and a week off at this point. Of course they are also probably getting pretty used to playing teams with developmental league like rosters and no big men.

It will be interesting to see the individual match-ups; Rondo vs. Nelson, Pierce vs. Carter, Lewis vs. Garnett, and of course, Doc vs. Stan. That might be the most interesting of all actually. I generally would give the edge to the guy who has the sweeter nickname, but Stan has a Burt Reynolds esque bush growing under hit nose so we'll call this a draw.

 If Boston owns the paint, Pierce is able to drive, and Rondo is able to run around in circle pulling off those sick behind the back fake passes, Dwight will be in constant foul trouble and they will win the series.